SteriPack’s Headoffice based in Ireland chose Lakeland, USA last year for the company’s first U.S. expansion in a 40,000-square-foot facility off South Pipkin Road.

Rick Scott touted a new state law that exempts manufacturers from having to pay sales taxes on equipment purchases for three years.

“By removing the tax on manufacturing equipment, Florida businesses like SteriPack will now be able to meet their full potential and be on a level playing field with companies across the country,” Scott said Friday morning. “The reason we want more manufacturing jobs is they’re long-lasting … we have way below the national average of manufacturing jobs.”

He also noted the state’s budget includes $278 million this year for developing and enhancing Florida’s 15 seaports, which Scott said will help fuel business and job growth.

SteriPack decided to expand to Lakeland because of the city’s proximity to major air and sea ports, said Tony Paolino, the company’s president.

SteriPack’s Lakeland facility makes packaging for top medical device manufacturers using a “clean room” environment. Paolino said the company intends to do more contract manufacturing work, in which it assembles, inspects and packages devices for other firms.